Sanger’s cloud computing wins award
High performance computing community recognises pioneering work of Sanger’s scientific IT teams.
Largest study of CRISPR-Cas9 mutations creates prediction tool for gene editing
The largest study of CRISPR action to date has developed a method to predict the exact mutations CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing can introduce to a cell.
Human cell atlas study reveals how the maternal immune system is modified early in pregnancy
Cell map of healthy pregnancy could also help understand miscarriages or preeclampsia
Largest parasitic worm genetic study hatches novel treatment possibilities
The largest genomic study of parasitic worms to date has identified hundreds of thousands of new genes and predicted many new potential drug targets and drugs.
Genetic code of 66,000 UK species to be sequenced
The genetic codes of 66,000 species in the UK are planned to be sequenced by the Wellcome Sanger Institute and its collaborators as part of a global effort to sequence the genomes of all 1.5 million known species of animals, plants, protozoa and fungi on Earth.
Study reveals how gene activity shapes immunity across species
By sequencing genes from over a quarter of a million cells across six mammalian species, researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute and collaborators, have shown how genes in the immune response have varied activity between cells and species.
Largest census of cancer genes will help scientists understand causes and find drug targets
Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute have created the first comprehensive summary of all genes known to be involved in human cancer, the “Cancer Gene Census”.
Mutant cells colonise our tissues over our lifetime
By the time we reach middle age, more than half of the oesophagus in healthy people has been taken over by cells carrying mutations in cancer genes, scientists have uncovered. By studying normal oesophagus tissue, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge and their collaborators uncovered a hidden world of mutations and evolution in our tissues as we…
Genetics allows personalised disease predictions for chronic blood cancers
Scientists have developed a successful method to make truly personalised predictions of future disease outcomes for patients with certain types of chronic blood cancers.
Newly sequenced mouse genomes unearth unknown genes
Scientists at EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have discovered significant diversity in the genomes of 16 laboratory strains of mouse, potentially impacting future research in genetics, drug development and beyond.
25 UK species' genomes sequenced for first time
The genomes of 25 UK species* have been read for the first time by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators**.
Journey to precision cancer treatment takes off with new passports tool
Cancer research and the future of precision cancer treatment will be accelerated by a new tool developed by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. The novel tool, called Cell Model Passports, acts as a central hub for the rapidly expanding number of cancer models, which are critically needed for cancer research.
Rare genetic disorders more complex than thought
Researchers have found that the genetic causes of rare neurodevelopmental disorders vary more than previously thought. The study from Wellcome Sanger Institute scientists and their collaborators discovered that serious rare disorders can be affected by combinations of common genetic variants, rather than solely individual rare variants that damage single genes.
Wellcome Sanger Institute at 25: how the genomic revolution is changing medicine
This October, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, one of the world’s leading centres of genomic research, celebrates 25 years of research and discovery through genome sequencing. In the same week, the NHS will become the first health service in the world to routinely offer genomic medicine as part of patient care.
Family tree of blood production reveals hundreds of thousands of stem cells
Adult humans have many more blood-creating stem cells in their bone marrow than previously thought, ranging between 50,000 and 200,000 stem cells. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome – MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute developed a new approach for studying stem cells, based on methods used in ecology.
Exhibition explores nature's genetic secrets
The Curious Nature exhibition explores the Wellcome Sanger Institute’s 25th anniversary project to sequence the genomes of 25 UK species for the first time.
Human Cell Atlas gets a boost with first funding from Wellcome
A team of UK scientists will begin work to scale up efforts to create a Human Cell Atlas, after the first injection of funding for generating data from human cells is announced by Wellcome. The £7m in new funding marks a major contribution to the UK’s involvement in this global project to create a reference map of every single cell type in the human body.
Genome damage from CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing higher than thought
Caution required for using CRISPR/Cas9 in potential gene therapies
Cholera spread tracked at household level
For the first time, the transmission of cholera has been tracked at the household level across Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city with a ‘hyper-endemic’ level of the disease. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators found that nearly 80 per cent of the cholera transmission in Dhaka occurred between people who shared a household.
Wellcome Sanger Institute calls for the free movement of scientists across European borders
The Wellcome Sanger Institute has provided evidence and made recommendations for an inquiry by the UK Parliament Science and Technology Committee into an immigration system that works for science and innovation.
Genetic discovery will help clinicians identify aggressive versus benign bone tumours
The first genetic marker for the bone tumour, osteoblastoma, has been discovered by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators.
New online course introduces bioinformatics to address skills gap
A free course ‘Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to protein function using bioinformatics’ has been developed by researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Wellcome Sanger Institute sequences reference genomes of 3,000 dangerous bacteria
The genomes of more than 3,000 bacteria, including some of the world’s most dangerous, have been sequenced by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in collaboration with Pacific Biosciences (PacBio). Infecting tens of millions of people worldwide every year, these bacteria have been collected by the National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) and include deadly strains of plague, dysentery…
Machine learning flags emerging pathogens
A new machine learning tool could be useful for flagging dangerous bacteria before they cause an outbreak, from hospital wards to a global scale.
Leukaemia: protective role of Y chromosone gene discovered
Scientists have discovered the first leukaemia protective gene that is specific to the male-only Y chromosome. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge found that this Y-chromosome gene protects against the development of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and other cancers.